IT has been said that Miami is to Florida what Manhattan is to New York an essential part of its attraction and identity. There is almost year-round heat and humidity, which is not unexpected when it is considered that Miami was developed from swampland

IT has been said that Miami is to Florida what Manhattan is to New York - an essential part of its attraction and identity. There is almost year-round heat and humidity, which is not unexpected when it is considered that Miami was developed from swampland and did not become a city until 1896. Now between the urban areas and the Miami Beach, the city sprawls and it is too large to consider traversing without transport. It's full of candy-coloured buildings, busy highways, shops, restaurants and sun-worshippers. The annual Miami Winter Music Conference will be taking place next month when more than 6,500 music industry professionals and enthusiasts from around the world meet at Miami Beach. No visit to Miami is complete with a visit to the Little Havana area, on Southwest 8th Street. The area is so-named because from the 1960s it has been mostly populated by people from Cuba. Other places to visit include the Gold Coast Railroad Museum which covers the arrival of the railroad, and outside Miami there is the Miccosukee Indian Village, where native Americans give an insight into their heritage. WHERE TO STAY Miami is packed with beach-side hotels and other kinds of accommodation and there should not be any problems for visitors looking for a room. VITAL STAT Between December and March - Miami's winter months - expect temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.